Carton and carton blank



Jan. 27, 1942. E. G. BARKER CARTON AND CARTON BLANK Filed Jan. 4, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 27, 1942. E. G.-BARKER 2,271,243

CARTON AND CARTON BLANK Filed Jan. 4, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A Tram E) Patented Jan. 27, 1942 UNITED" STATES PATENTJVIOFFICE'QS CARTONYAND CARTONBLANK Edmund George Barker, Melbourne, Victoria, M v v Australia v V Application January 4, 1938, Serial No. 183,342

In Australia January 22, 1937- 3Claims. (1229-47) L.

This invention relatesto cartons for the marketing, i. e., the transport, storage, and retail distribution, of various kinds of merchandise, and more particularly relates to cartons of the known kind that are each formed from a blank of cardboard, Manilla board, or such like material which is so shaped, slit, cut, or slotted and creased as to be capable of erection to provide an outer casing and also self-formed partitions which subdivide the interior of the casinginto a series of separate cells, each of which may accommodate a unit of merchandise.

To this end a carton blank according to the invention comprises a rectangular central portion destined to form the bottom of the carton, portions extending from two opposite sides of the central portion destined to form two upstanding side walls and atop or closure for the carton, two other portions extending from the opposite ends of the central portion destined to form the upstanding end portions of the carton, and flaps extending respectively laterally and longitudinally from. each of the said last two mentioned portions, said flaps being so creased that they may be folded so as to constitute artitions subdividing the interior of the carton into a plurality of cells.

Referring to the drawings which form part of this specification: I

, Figure 1 is a plan view of a blank in accord ance with the invention from which a carton vw'th self formed internal compartments may be formed.

Figure 2 is an enlarged section on line AA, Figure 1, indicating how certain portions of the blank are folded during erection of the blank into a a six-cell carton.

Figure 3 is a perspective of an end portion of the blank illustrating a further stage of its erection into carton form.

Figure 4 is another perspective showing a further stage of erection.

Figure 5 is a perspective of the completed carlength thereof'is a side portion 3 also of rectangular form, which isdestined to form one of the side walls o-fthe carton. Extending outwardly in continuation of the side portion 3 and connected thereto by a'crease 4 extending length-- wise is 'a-flap or portion '6 which is destined to form one of the top or closing flaps of the carton.

The portions 3, 6 are duplicated at the other side edge of the central portion 2, and are denoted by similar reference numeralsprimed. The resulting portions 'or flaps 6,6" are adapted to be interengagedafter various other portions of the blank to be mentioned hereinafter have been adjusted, in order to provide a closure for the complete subdivided. carton.

Projecting lengthwise from the ends of the central portion 2 and of the same width thereof are end portions 1, 1', which; when'erected, should be of the same height-as the side portions Extending outwardly from the side edges of each end portion 1, I in the same direction as the side portions 3, 3', but separated therefrom by slits or incisions 8, 8', are inner flaps 9, 9'. Each of said flaps is intermediately of its length creased transversely as at II, II, to thereby form outer flaps I2, I 2, each provided with a slot or slit l3, l3 which extends transversely from the outer side edge to approximately midway of the outer flap. The inner flaps 9, 9 are connected'to the end portions 1, 1', by hinge creases l0, l0.

Projecting outwardly from the outer'end edges of the end portions 1, I, and connected thereto by hinge creases l4, M, are inner longitudinal flaps l6, l6 which are creased transversely intermediately of their length as at I1, I1, and provided in their outerportions I8, l8 with slots or slits l9, I9 which extend inwardly from the outer edges to points intermediately of the- Each of the lastmenouter portions l8, I8. tioned slots or slits is adapted to cooperate, as will be hereinafter described, with the two slots or slits l3, [3' in the beforementioned flaps l2,

To erect a six-cell carton from such a blank, the flaps 9, 9' outstanding from the end portions 1, I, are folded inwardly about the creases l0, l0 and also about the creases ll, ll, so that the outer portions I2, I2 of thepairsof flaps lie one against the other and upstand intermediately of the width of the respective end portions, as indicated by broken lines in Figure 1, and seen more clearly in Figure 2.

The respective end portions 1, I may then be swung upwardly about the creases 2c, 2d, uniting them to the central portion 2, with the result that the two pairs of contiguous flaps I2, I2 will now extend lengthwise and intermediately of the width of the central portion 2, as seen in Figure 3.

The inner end flaps I6, I6 are swung inwardly and downwardly about the creases I 4, I4, uniting them to the end portions I, 1', and thereafter the outer end flaps I8, I8 are folded downwardly and inwardly about the creases I1, I1" so that the slits I9, I9 of the said flap l8, I8 register'with the aligned slits I3, I3 of the now erect side flaps l2, I2, as seen in Figures 3 and 4.

The result of such adjustments is to form six compartments or cells of substantially uniform size and shape which are separated from each other by various portions of the flaps. Thus the flaps I2, I2 extend lengthwise centrally of the width of the carton, and the flaps I8, I8 extend transversely at longitudinally spaced positions. The outer portions of the respective pairs of flaps I2, I2 extend substantially centrally of the structure and they may, if desired, be held together near their abutting ends by a clip, fastener or other device (not shown) to thereby assist in maintaining the flaps in their assembled form to provide the separate cells or compartments.

In order to complete the erection of the carton and lock it in a closed position, the two side portions 3, 3' are swung upwardly about the respective creases 2a, 2b, uniting them to the central portion 2 and thereafter the two top portions or flaps 6, 6 are folded downwardly and inwardly about the creases 4, 4', so as to lie substantially flat upon the upper surfaces of the flaps I6, I6 and I2, I2.

Any suitable provision may be made for detachably interlocking the two top or closure flaps 6, 6. For example, one of the top portions 6' may be provided near its outer edge and intermediate of its length with a longitudinal slit 2| which may be either straight or curved. The other top flap 6 may be provided intermediate of its length with an outstanding tongue or hook piece 22 which extends at such an angle that upon it being entered into the slit 2| of the companion flap 6, the flap 6 can be moved lengthwise into the position shown in Figure 5, to thereby prevent inadvertent or inopportune opening. Opening of the carton is effected by reverse lengthwise sliding of the flap 6, followed by lateral sliding thereof away from the other top portion 6'. v

In the drawings, the flaps IB, I8 are shown as being relatively short in that in the erected condition they terminate a considerable distance clear of the central or bottom portion 2. This may be advisable for economy of material, but it will be evident that the flaps I8, I8 may be longer so that they may, if desired, extend downwardly into contact or approximate contact with the central or bottom portion 2.

By employing suitable Manilla board, cardboard or the like, even relatively fragile or delicate articles, e. g. eggs, peaches, apricots, plums, may be packed one in each cell and be adequately protected against damage during transport and storage. It will also be evident that air may circulate about articles packed in the carton.

Having now described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure my Letters Patent is:

1. A carton which comprises a bottom wall, side walls folded upwardly therefrom, flaps secured to the upstanding edges of two opposed side walls, said flaps being folded so as to extend back along said side walls and having extensions folded so as to extend parallelly into the body of said carton to form partitions, overlying flaps extending from the top edges of the opposed side walls which support the partition forming flaps and overlying said partitions, and tuck flaps carried by said overlying flaps and extending into the body of said carton to position said partition flaps.

2. A carton which comprises a bottom wall. side walls folded upwardly therefrom, flaps secured to the upstanding edges of two opposed side walls, said flaps being folded so as to extend back along said side walls, said flaps having extensions folded so as to extend parallelly into the body of said carton to form partitions, overlying flaps extending from the top edges of the opposed side walls which support the partition forming flaps and overlying said partitions, and tuck flaps carried by said overlying flaps and extending into the body of said carton to position said partition flaps, and slots in said partition flaps and said tuck flaps arranged and adapted to cooperate in securing said flaps in position.

3. A carton formed from a one-piece blank, which blank is substantially symmetrical and comprises a rectangular central portion adapted to form the bottom wall, portions extending from two opposite sides of the rectangular central portion adapted to form two opposed upstanding side walls, extensions on the outer edges of said last mentioned portions adapted to jointly form a cover, cooperating interlocking means integrally formed with said extensions to secure the cover in closed position, two other panels connected to said opposite ends of the central portion along fold lines and forming, in operative position, the opposed upstanding end walls, and flaps extending laterally from each side and longitudinally from each end respectively of said last two mentioned panels, and longitudinal extensions on each of said laterally and longitudinally extending flaps, each of said longitudinal extensions being coextensive with the edge of the liap to which it is joined and being connected thereto along a fold line, the laterally extending side flaps of each side, in operative position extend- .ing along and in face contacting relation with an adjacent side wall and the longitudinal extensions of said side flaps, in operative position, extending inwardly and in parallel face contacting relation to each other, the end flap of each end wall, in operative position, overlying said bottom wall, and the extension of each end flap extending downwardly into contacting relation with the extensions of the side flaps, each downwardly extending extension having a, slot in the lower edge thereof cooperating with aligned slots in the upper edges of the parallel face contacting extensions to interlock the extensions together and secure them in position.

EDMUND G. BARKER. 

